Construct

Definition of Measure

Top management support

The support of the management regarding the training and development of internal auditors, the response of the management for audit findings and audit recommendations, and the cooperation of the management for the internal auditors.

Organizational independence

The freedom of the internal auditors to include any audit findings in the audit reports, the relationships of the internal audit department with the management team of the university, the freedom of the internal auditors regarding the accessibility of information or data pools while they run the audit activities, and the content of the annual work plan of the internal audit with respect to financial budget and staffing information.

Adequate and competent internal auditors

The size, recruitment policy, training and development programs, education level and experience of internal auditors.

Internal audit charter

A formal written document, which contains the scope, purpose, authority, and responsibility of internal auditors in the institution.

Quality of internal audit work

The determiner of the annual audit plan, the coverage of audit, the follow-up procedure, the applicability of laws, regulations, policies and procedures, the discussion of internal auditors and auditees about the audit findings before the final audit reports are issued, and the reliability of audit working paper.

Career and advancement

Hiring and assigning employees for temporary as an internal auditor to transfer them to a better position in the near future.

Management perception of internal audit function value

Managers’ awareness or understanding regarding the internal auditors’ roles.

Information technology

Usage of software by the internal audit department, and knowledge and skill of internal auditors related to computerized information systems or software packages.

Objectivity of internal auditors

The unbiased mental attitude of internal auditors when carrying out their duties. That is, not participating in an audit of activities for the operation of which they were responsible previously until a reasonable time has elapsed, rotating their assignments, and they must be free from social pressure, economic advantage, and political influence, when performing their audit duties

Internal audit effectiveness

Measured by three dimensions: Auditees’ evaluation (the evaluation of the management regarding the internal audit reports, and the satisfaction of the management with respect to the work of the internal audit), added contribution of internal audit (the benefits and savings of internal audits to the institution compared to its costs), and auditing quality (the constructiveness of the internal audit findings and recommendations, the applicability of the internal audit recommendations, and the level or way of identifying risks while the audit activities are performed).